Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-25
But the next marriage at which the lat
ter ofaciated she hoped would be her

as Dr1Qe.
The floral wealth of Sir Brisco's con-
servatories had been lavished on the
decoration of the old village church, as
| his pineries end wineries had made the
elegance and luxury OF the bridal break
| fast.
Dick Taibot-marrisge were of small
importance to him, save in SO far as q
huge piece of the cake WAS concerned
! had gone on a ramble in the woods; and
his brother Reginsld was alone-alone
with all his own SD thoughts after g
sleepless and weary night, for being in
capable OF ali exercise, repose came to
him ftfully and in enatches; and on this
morning in one Of these, he had dreamt
Of Amy Brepdon.
He heard her voice talking to him kind
ly aud pitifullv, though he knew not the
words she used.
He touched her thick dark hair with
his thin, wasted fingers, and played with
the piquante fringe that ourled nearly to
her bright and laughing eyes; and ere her
face began to fade sway, he felt-Yes, &C
tuslly seemed to feel-the touch of Der
lips, in 6 farewell kiss. softly and glow
ingly upon his own; snd he aWoke with
a start and a h"n -stifed cry, to find it
Wss her wedding morning
And now, with the memory OF that
vivid and tantalizing dream keenly in his
mind, he sat near the open window,
needless of the frosty air, reclining on his
couch in his usual helplessness, srd
listening for the passing sounds that
came from the distant village.
He reviewed his past life since he had
known her, especially since he had come
home, g helpless cripple from the coast OF
Egypt, doomed to beggary by the very
government for which he had lost health
and hope. He thought over the time
when be had rejoiced in her society and
in the light Of her beauty and her grave
and winning manner shed around him,
till the blow struck his heart, when Mus
grave came and ne knew that she was
engaged-was TO be married.
How be felt none knew save himself.
Better, be thought, to have been struck
blind-yea, stone dead. lie would have
avoided her, after that news came
svoided her society and escaped the
world; but he was helpless as ctild.
All the love of his heart had gone forth
to her, allured by her winning ways, her
sisterly bearing to him--for Amy never
meant or imagined it could be more. 1t
was O perfect love, as ne neither hoped
nor looked for any return. Her presence
| to him had been as sunshine cast about the
gloom of his existence; and in his silent
worship he would cheerfully have laid
down his life for Amy, if by doing so he
could have served her.
His emotions were expressed in the
words of Shelley's serenade, as he hsd
often hesrd her sing it:
rise from dreams CT thee,
In the hTst eve t sleep of night,
Wnen the winds are breathing low,
and the stars are shining bright;
ri7c from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in nv feet
HISS led mr-who tnows how
To thy winQoW-chamber, sweet.
Oh lifG me from he grass-
] die-I fa'nt-I fail
Let thy love in isses rain
On nv lips and eye'ids psle.
NY cheek is col and white. alas,
MY heart beats loud anu fast;
On press 1t Close to trire again,
Where 1t will bresk st last
| The blow he so long expected had
fallen at last, and the girl he could only
| love in secret Was lost to him more than
| ever.
II his dumb despair ne now realized TO
| the full how great and how futile that
| love had been. Those two were together
now; ere long they would pass side BY
| side from the altar where her father had
given her sway; and ere long the new
made bridegroom would be worshioing
| the bright beeuty Of her sunny little face,
bis arm encircling her waist, and his
kisses would be where bis-Regineld's-
had never beer, on her brow, her hair, her
lips: while he was here. on his couch,
crushed, lonely, desolate and longing only
for death.
Suddenly the chimes rang out joyously
aud merfily in the square, ivied tower Of
the village church; but the sound brought
no message of g;sdness or peace to the
ear of r eeinsld Talbot. II came rather
like the muffiod knell that announces the
hour of doom TO the dying.
He made wild esssv as IL he would
start TO bis feet-instinct with emotion,
copvuIsed by an inward struggle-orly
to sink back among his cushions; while
the old and attached servant, Betbia
Barlow, ignorant of his thoughts, of sll
he felt snd endured, burst in exclaiming:
"Tne 10y bells-the marriage bells Of
Miss Amv-bless her little heart. You
hear them, Master Reginald" she added,
as II he was still bov, IS with clash and
clang the notes came upon the frosty air
through the open window, where she had
swept away the snow, that Melanie might
feed the robins as usual.
Intent only on listening to the wedding
chimes and the sound Of cheering that
came from the village, she did not remark
the chsuged appearance Of the unhappy
young man, who looked, as he felt, diving,
As he reclined back, with closed eyes,
he hoped the fat had gone forth that
would give peace to his overtsXed heart
and, so far ss this world is concerned,
oblivion TO his soul.
fit had come upon hiu-one from
which be WAS long in rsilyiDg; and the
dreadful announcement that he "wes
gone" were the first tidipgs that met
Melsnie on her return from the festivities
at the vicsrsge.
But REGINALD did not die, though left in
a more prosfrste condition than ever; and
another shock OF misery now awaited the
unfortunate Melapie.
To be Continued Nt1t Week.
A BLOOnLESS MAN.